JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African police arrested a man wanted by British authorities on suspicion of killing his wife and two young daughters in England after tracing him to Johannesburg, police said Friday.
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, a British citizen of Zimbabwean origin, was arrested in the Johannesburg suburb of Kensington in an intelligence-led operation involving Interpol and South African police agencies.
British authorities had been looking for Tshuma in connection with the deaths of his wife, Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and their daughters, Natalie, 15, and Nala, 5. Their bodies were discovered at the family’s home near Bedford, north of London.
Acting National Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Puleng Dimpane said the arrest underscored South Africa’s cooperation with international law enforcement agencies in tracking down fugitives.
“This arrest demonstrates that South Africa is not a safe haven for fugitives," Dimpane said. “Anyone who believes they can evade justice by fleeing to our country should know that (the South African Police Service) will work tirelessly with international law enforcement partners to trace, locate and arrest them.”
Police spokesperson Brig. Athlenda Mathe said the necessary legal and extradition processes would be undertaken with U.K. authorities. Britain and South Africa have an extradition treaty, although suspects arrested in South Africa must still appear before local courts before they can be extradited.
Sources familiar with the matter said Tshuma's lawyer’s identity was expected to become clear when the case is called in court.
Tshuma is scheduled to appear before a South African court on Monday.
AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
This image taken from video shows authorities escorting Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma into the back of a police vehicle on Friday, July 10, 2026, in Johannesburg. (eNCA via AP)
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals and JJ Wetherholt agreed Friday to a $112.5 million, eight-year contract that buys out the rookie second baseman's first several years of potential free agency.
“I want to be in the same spot,” Wetherholt said. “That’s just how I am. I’m from a small town, went to college an hour outside of that, wanted to stay there as long as possible. It’s the same here. When I got drafted, I knew that I wanted to be here for as long as possible, and this is a step in that direction, so it means a lot.
The contract is the largest the Cardinals have given a player prior to arbitration eligibility, topping the $100 million, seven-year deal with Albert Pujols ahead of the 2004 season.
“It’s just great to have the backing from our staff and front office,” Wetherholt said. “This obviously shows that they believe, so that’s great there. But I'll just continue to go about my work that I do every day, and that’s where the confidence mainly comes from is that preparation and the work that I do behind the scenes.”
The Cardinals picked Wetherholt, 23, seventh overall out of West Virginia two years ago in 2024 amateur draft, and he rocketed through their farm system. He made his major league debut on opening day and was hitting .267 with 13 homers and 36 RBIs and nine stolen bases going into Friday night's game against the Atlanta Braves.
Advanced metrics also have graded Wetherholt as one of the best defensive second basemen in baseball this season.
He is earning the major league minimum $780,000 this year.
Wetherholt's emergence in the middle of the St. Louis infield is a big reason the club has been one of the surprises of the first half of the season. The Cardinals were 48-44 and three games out of an NL wild-card spot heading into the weekend.
“When you talk about an extension in locking someone in for eight years, you’re betting on the person,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “You’re betting on the consistency of personality. You’re betting on the work ethic that years from today you know exactly what’s going to continue to walk through that door, and that speaks to the way he’s carried himself, the way he treats people and the way he goes about his work.”
His deal is one of the first big signings for St. Louis since significant changes were made to the top of the organizational ladder.
Last September, Chaim Bloom took over as the Cardinals' president of baseball operations, replacing longtime general manager John Mozeliak. Then last month, Bill DeWitt III took over as chief executive officer, though Bill DeWitt Jr. has continued as chairman and principal owner with a hand in baseball and business matters.
“It’s an important day for our long-term strategy of really building a core,” DeWitt III said. “We’re seeing that out on the field every day, and JJ is one of the keys to that group, and locking him up for this long period of time feels like one down and several more to go at some point. It’s a nice organizational milestone, but it’s really just the beginning.”
AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta contributed to this report.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt, right, is greeted by Nelson Velázquez, left, after hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong, right, 1steals second base against St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt, left, during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt takes up his position during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday, July 6, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
